We’re all aware that we’re experiencing a childhood obesity epidemic. Instances of Type II Diabetes in children are going through the roof. Clothing companies have had to start manufacturing “husky” lines for children. Kids are eating too much convenience food and aren’t getting enough physical activity – it’s no big secret.
What I find interesting is the number of older toddlers I see being pushed in strollers. I’m not talking 2-year-olds, I mean 4 and 5-year-olds who are perfectly capable of walking on their own. Granted, this would probably slow mom and dad down some, but wouldn’t it be worth it to know you’re instilling the value of physical activity in your children from a young age?
It amazes me how many of these kids I see being pushed around, when they should be up on their own two feet. When does using a stroller stop being a necessity, and start being laziness?
This article appears in Nov 6-12, 2008.
I have seen alot of this recently as well. My fave are the people with the double wide, golf cart sized strollers who push around 4 year olds and usually have a couple dogs and an entourage of at least 3 people to boot. I understand that 3 and 4 year olds can’t walk for miles, but if you want to go for a long walk, maybe leave them at home or if you can’t, pick a more suitable distance. I think it is 100% laziness … so much easier to toss kids in a stroller than walk at their meandering pace, even if its good for them.
OMG – I thought I was the only one who this bothered. Obviously little kids can’t walk for long distances, but I’m sorry, a four year-old is perfectly capable of walking through the mall on their own.
My two year old walks most places now. And my 6 year old walks quite a distance with me. She always asks to go in the car or bus, but she gets her excercise.That being said when my 6 year old was 4-5 it was a hassle sometimes. So it depends on how quickly I need to get somewhere. But If I can I make them walk.
I saw a mother try and get her overweight kid to run the other day,and the kid had no idea how to even do it. The mother had to keep reminding the child to bend her knees. It was pretty sad, but hopefully the mother will keep it up.
By age 2 or so, except on longer trips?If they’d rather push a stroller than slow down and let the child dictate the pace, they need to check their priorities. I think they initially designed those strollers for disabled kids, not hurried mothers.
You don’t have to look far. The only exercise most of these people get is lifting the child in and out of child seats and climbing in and out of their SUVs. Thank gawd they have to walk around stores and malls otherwise most adults wouldn’t get any exercise at all.
I think people also use strollers because they are paranoid their kids are going to be snatched away by strangers. What about those harnesses? I think they are insane.